UPDF dismisses New York Times allegations against Gen. Muhoozi as “scandalous”

What the report says

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces has rejected allegations reported by The New York Times about Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, calling the claims unfounded, harmful and scandalous. In a statement issued in Kampala on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, acting Defence Public Information director Col. Chris Magezi said the article repeated long-running opposition and activist claims against the government and lacked credible supporting evidence.

The UPDF response focused in part on reporting tied to exiled Ugandan author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, whose account was cited in the New York Times piece. Col. Magezi denied that Gen. Kainerugaba had ever met Kakwenza and said the army viewed the allegations as inconsistent and unverified. The statement also criticized what it described as a broader pattern of Western media scrutiny of the army chief, naming earlier reports by The Telegraph, The Wall Street Journal and The Economist.

Beyond disputing the specific claims, the UPDF defended Gen. Kainerugaba’s military record and said judgments about Uganda’s leadership should be left to Ugandans. It also reiterated that the army operates within the law, supports civil authorities when required, and expects allegations of wrongdoing to be tested through proper legal channels.

As reported by Watchdog Uganda, the dispute highlights continuing tension over international coverage of Uganda’s political and military leadership. The allegations themselves were not independently verified in the statement cited by the publisher.